IAN B MACLEOD

Born on 25 January 1938 aboard the famous Coronation Scot express train, Ian B. MacLeod developed a love of music at an early age. As a child, he sang in his local church choir, listened to country and early rockabilly music on Armed Forces Radio, and became inspired by singing cowboy Roy Rogers, deciding he wanted to pursue a career as a cowboy singer. After briefly working as a commercial artist, Ian joined the merchant navy and travelled extensively aboard P&O cruise ships. During this time, he purchased his first guitar in Spain and formed his first band. While visiting Sydney, his group, Ian and The Bop Street Boys, won Australia's Amateur Hour with their performance of "Boppin' The Blues," although they were later disqualified because they were not Australian residents.

Following his permanent move to Australia, Ian's talent attracted the attention of rock-and-roll pioneer Johnny O'Keefe, who renamed him Adam and featured him on radio and television programs including Rockville Junction and Six O'Clock Rock. As Adam, he became a teenage idol and is regarded as one of Australia's earliest genuine rockabilly performers, appearing on numerous popular television shows and releasing the single "Princess / Made To Be Loved."

As musical tastes shifted during the 1960s, Ian returned to his roots by forming The Nashville Five, later renamed The Major Six, focusing on country and rockabilly music. Recordings made with Top Spot Records in 1964 were believed lost until Ian rediscovered the tapes two decades later. The recovered sessions were released in 1984 as 'Return To Six O'Clock Rock'. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Ian became a familiar face on Australian country music television and toured extensively across the country. He also performed regularly on Sitmar cruise ships and established his own record label, Bunyip Records, in 1975, later rebranding it as Pinewood Records in 1997. He additionally operated the Rockabilly label.

Ian built a long and successful recording and performing career, earning acclaim for his tributes to Slim Whitman and portrayals of Carl Perkins. His powerful three-octave vocal range and dedication to traditional country and rockabilly music won him loyal audiences throughout Australia and New Zealand. His achievements include:Induction into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth (1997), Induction into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame at the Wintersun Festival (2000), Induction into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame (2000). He had long-standing appearances at the Gympie/Maryborough Country Music Stampede Ian B. MacLeod remains one of Australia's enduring country and rockabilly performers, with a career spanning decades as a singer, recording artist, label owner, and ambassador for traditional country music.

SINGLES
''Princess / Made To Be Loved'' [ As Adam With Johnny Devlin's Devils] 1960 Teen 
''When You Say Love / Less Of Me'' 1974 Festival
''Goodbye Joanne / Sweet Fantasy'' 1974 Festival
''If We Don't Have Love / Goodbye, Joanne'' 1976 Bunyip
''Song For Jenny / Rockabilly Cowboy'' 1982 Bunyip
''Captain Moonlight / God Bless The Children'' 1982 Bunyip
''Help Me Dream'' [with Melinda Johnstone] / ''The Rockabilly Express'' [with The Rockin' Chevies] 1986 Rockabilly 
''Be-Bop-A-Lula / I'm Goin' Home'' 1986 Rockabilly
''Forever Yours / Buddy, Gene, Eddie, Elvis, Rick And John'' 1990 Rockabilly

ALBUMS
'Restless' 1972 Troubadour
'In Concert At Sea' 1975 Bunyip
'Hello Mary Lou' 1977 Bunyip
'Just For You' 1981 Bunyip
'The Rockabilly Country Special' 1982 Bunyip
'Return To Six O’Clock Rock' 1984 Rockabilly
'Thank You Mr Perkins' 1988 Rockabilly
'Jesus Even Loves Cowboys' 1995 Pinewood
'Blue Misty Mountains' 2006 Pinewood
'Classic Rockabilly' 2006 Rockabilly
Sings Slim Whitman 2006 Pinewood
To Sail On A Dream 2006
Ride For The Kids 2007
Blue Suede Shoes: 16 Great Rockabilly Hits.
'Easy Lovin' 2009 Pinewood
Cedar Creek Memories.2013
That’s How The Yodel Was Born.2016

References

IAN B MacLEOD; IAN B MacLEOD; HOF_1997_MACLEOD | eHive